Stand for ironing machines or the like



A. H. GERHARDT ETAL sum: FOR momma MACHINES ox THE LIKE Feb. 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. .20, 1945 I [ZVP'EMJEi fiA/MEW AC Esp/wear a a M P. 00 w 0 4 km W Feb. 20, 1951 GERHA'RDT ETAL- 2,542,244

STAND FOR IRONING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORJ {flan/0025:4012

THE? fiTTOlP/VEY Feb. 20, 1951 A. H. GERHARDT ETAL 2,542,244

' STAND FOR IRONING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 20, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [Maw-012 5 OW-HM? 950/042 BY W T-E/Q 5770/8/14? Feb. 20,1951 GERHARDT ETAL 2,542,244

STAND FOR IRONING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 20, 1945 4 Shasta-Sheet 4 I INVENTORS I la. 11.. ,0xvapa fil5ap/maar &HA77'HUQQ5Z'HULZ Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAND FOR IRONING MACHINES OR THE' LIKE Andrew H. Gerhardt, Skokie, and Arthur P.

Schulz, Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Thor Corpo ration, a corporation of Illinois Application January 20, 1945, Serial No. 573,682

7 Claims.

and their supporting structures in this manner is to permit the machine'and supporting structure to occupy a small amount of floor space when not in use. Heretofore, ironing machines of certain types have been associated with cumbersome, complicated, and expensive cabinet structures into which the machines were adapted to be folded or collapsed when not in use. Some of such machines were constructed and arranged so that the floor area occupied thereby. when the machine was folded therein, was comparatively small, but due to the nature of such cabinet structures, the height thereof was found highly objectionable. Moreover, such cabinet type ironing machine structures were also found objectionable due to the excessive weight thereof, which precluded convenient movement of the combined machine and cabinet structure from place to place, and which precluded their movement about the household for practical storage in an out of the way place, such as a closet or hallway.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved ironing machine and supporting frame which is constructed and arranged so that when the ironer is folded in an inoperative position, it will occupy a relatively small compact volumetric spacefrequiring extremely small floor area for storage, and which is relatively light in weight, and arranged so as to permit the assembly to be conveniently moved from place to place about the household for use, or to be moved to a convenient out of the way place for storage, such as a closet, hall, etc.

Another object is to provide an improved ironing machine and supporting structure which is constructed and arranged so that the machine may be swung about a fixed horizontal pivot axis extending transversely of the machine, so that the machine may occupy either a horizontal operating position or a vertical inoperative position.

A further object is to provide an improved ironing machine and supporting frame wherein the machine is mounted for movement, about a fixed horizontal axis, from a vertical inoperative position to a horizontal operating position, and wherein automatic latch means is provided and is constructed to be automatically operated when the machine is moved to a horizontal operating position for supporting the machine in such a position of adjustment.

Still another object is to provide an improved ironing machine and supporting structure, wherein the machine is mounted for movement about a fixed horizontal axis from a vertical inoperative position to a horizontal operating position, and wherein spring means is provided in association with a pivotal mounting for counterbalancing the weight of the machine.

A still further object is to provide an improved ironing machine and supporting structure wherein the machine is mounted for movement about a fixed horizontal axis from a horizontal operating position to a vertical inoperative position,.

and wherein a knee operated control lever is mounted on and connected to the underside of the machine in a manner so as to cause it to be automatically folded against the machine when the latter is disposed in vertical, inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention. will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine and supporting structure embodying the present invention, in which the machine is shown disposed in a horizontal operating position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine and supporting structure, with the, machine shown disposed in horizontal operating position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine and supporting structure, with the machine shown disposed in a collapsed, vertical, inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the machine and supporting structure, showing the machine in an unlatched position, ready for movement from a horizontal operating position to a vertical inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting frame structure per se, with the ironing machine represented in dot and dash outline, indicating the manner in which the supporting structure and machine thereon may be conveniently moved from place to place.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view, part in elevation and part in section, showing a portion of the machine and its pivotal mounting on the supporting structure.

Fig. '7 is a vertical, sectional view through the pivotal mounting of the machine, taken substantially as indicated at line 1-1 on Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, part in section, of the caster wheel mounting in one of the standards of the frame structure.

Fig. 8a is a vertical, sectional view taken at line 8----il on Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the caster wheel mounting represented in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken as indicated at line Ill-l 0 on Fig. 2, showing one The combined ironing machine and supporting frame structure, as represented in the drawings, comprises an ironing machine indicated generally at A, and a supporting frame structure indicated generally at B. The machine A" includes a generally rectangular base II), which it may be understood encloses a suitable driving mechanism, and extending upwardly from the right-hand end of the base is a housing I, which encloses power transmitting mechanism for driving a rotatable roll l2, which in turn is journal supported at one end on the housing H. An elongated shoe I4, is positioned rearwardly of the roll and is carried on a pivoted arm I4, which extends down into the base l0, and which it may be understood is operably connected to the driving mechanism.

Since the driving mechanism and power transmitting mechanism for actuating the roll and the shoe form no direct part of the present invention, no detailed disclosure thereof is herein,

made, other than the disclosure of a single operating member |5,'which it may be understood controls the operation of both the roll and the shoe. Said operating member |5 is in the form of a knee operating lever, adapted to depend from the underside of the machine, and pivotally connected at |6 to a bracket on the underside of the base "I. It is to be understood that the pivot connection for the knee lever is such that when the lever is disposed in the position seen in Fig. 1, it engages a fixed abutment so that said lever may be forcibly moved to the right from the position seen in Fig. l, for operating the power transmitting mechanism in the base I. Said pivotal connection permits said lever I 5, to swing under influence of gravity in relatively close relation to the underside of the base It], when the machine is disposed in a vertical inoperative position, as may be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The supporting frame structure B," is of relatively simple form and is composed of two main members formed of tubular metal. One of said members is of inverted U-shaped formation, and includes upright leg members 20 and 2|, connected at their upper end by an intermediate portion 22, and the latter serving as a hand grip for moving the supporting frame structure and machine from place to place, as will hereinafter be described. The other frame memberincludes a horizontal base of U-shaped formation, including side members 23, connected by an intermediate portion 24. The side members merge into upwardly extending leg members 25 and 26, disposed parallel to and adjacent the leg members 20 and 2| of the first frame member. Said leg members of the two frames are preferably welded together to' form standards and the lower portions of said legs are rigidified by welded webs of metal, as indicated at 28. The upper end of the leg 25 .of the second frame member, terminates in a forwardly and horizontally extending pivotal support arm 29, which serves to provide he main support for the ironing machine A." A bearing housing 3|, is adapted to be fixedly attached to the bottom plate 32 of the base III of the ironing machine, as seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings, by screws 33, threaded into nuts 34, which preferably are welded onto the upper, or inner surface of the bottom plate 32 of the base It. Said housing 3|, is formed at the rear end with a bearing-35, for engaging an intermediate portion of the horizontal extension 23, of the frame structure and the forward portion of said extension 29, is adapted to be seated in a bearing 36, formed as a cup and welded in place to the forward end of the housing 3|. While the housing and bearing structures are shown as sheet metal stampings, it is to be understood that if desired, they may be formed as a unitary casting.

Mounted on the horizontal extension 29 of the leg 25, is a double coil spring 40, composed of two sections. interconnected by a looped portion as indicated at 4|, and the free ends of said coil sections, as indicated at 42, are positioned so that when the housing 3| is connected to the bottom of the base l0, said portions engage the underside of said base, as clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7. The intermediate or loop portion 4|, of the double coil sprin is rigidly attached to the extension 29, by a headed pin 44, extending through said extension 29, and the free end of a pin 44, is provided with a cotter 45, to anchor the spring and pin on said extension 29. In assembling the machine A" on the supporting frame, the housing 3| with the double coil spring 40, in place therein, is first telescoped over the extension 29, and the spring attached in place by the headed pin 44. The housing 3| is then turned through an angle, to a position so that the plane of open top lie substantially as indicated by dotted line in Fig. 6, at which time the housing 3| is then connected to the bottom 32 of the base of the machine, and the machine is then rotated counterclockwise, through an angle as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, and due to the engagement of the free ends 42, of the double spring against the underside of the bottom 32, said coil spring becomes tensioned. If the ma chine were permitted to rotate further in counterclockwise direction about the axis of the extension 29, from the horizontal position to the vertical position as seen in Fig. 3, said spring 43 is further increased in tension. Thus the tension in the spring serves to counterbalance the total weight of the machine A, and serves to facilitate swinging the machine from the vertical inoperative position seen in Fig. 3, to the horizontal operative position seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

Pivotally mounted at 5| on the underside of the bottom 32 of the base of the machine is a latch lever 52, having a hand knob 53. A stud 54 extends upwardly from said-lever through a slot 55, in the bottom 32 of the base and is connected to one end of a coil spring 56. The opposite end of the coil spring is connected to a.

lug 51 and projects upwardly from the.bottom 32 of the base of the machine, as clearly seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Thus the sprin 56 tends to yieldingl maintain the operating latch lever 52 with its pin 54 against one edge of the slot 55 as seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings. Said lever 52 is adapted to cooperate, when the machine is swung to a vertical inoperative position as seen in Fig. 3, with a latch detent 5|! of hook shape formation, for automatically and positively latching the machine in said vertical inoperative position. Said hook formation of latch member 60 is formed from a plate, having a leg portion projected through an aperture formed in the leg 25 of the second frame member, and is welded in place therein, as clearly seehfi: Fig. 12 of the drawings. As the machine swings downwardly, the edge of the latch lever 52 cams over the rounded nose iii, of the latch member 60. until it seats in the notch thereof, under influence of the spring 56. To release the machine from such latched inoperative position, merely requires moving the latch lever 52 upwardly from the position seen in Fig. 3 to disengage it'from latch member 60, and then grasping the free end of the machine and swinging it upwardly about its pivotal mounting until it assumes a substantially horizontaloperating position. As the machine approaches such position,

the latch lever 52 cams against the inner surfaces of the leg 26 of the frame structure until it abuts against a stop lug 63 on the upper portion of the leg 2| of the first frame member for limiting the upward swinging movement of the machine, about its pivotal mounting. In such position the latch lever 52 is disposed with its aperture 84 in registration with a nubbin it, carried in the upper free end of the leg 26 of the second frame member, so that the machine may then be lowered slightly about its pivot mounting until said aperture 64 of the latch lever telescopes unto the nubbin 65 and thereby positively and automatically latches the machine in a horizontal operating position. To release the machine from such position for disposing it in inoperative position, merely requires raising up on the free end of the machine to disengage the latch lever from the ubbin B5, and then by swinging said lever 52 in clockwise direction the machine may then be permitted to swing downwardly about its pivot mounting. The latch lever thus follows a path of travel as indicated in dot and dash .outline at 66, in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Incident to such movement of the machine to the horizontal operating position, or the vertical inoperative position, the knee control lever I5, automatically functions so that when the machine is in horizontal osition, said knee op erating lever is disposed .n depending relation in position to be operated. and when the machine ls disposed in vertical inoperative position, as seen in Fig. 3, said lever I5 is then disposed fiat against the underside of the-base ll) of the machine.

For convenience in moving the total machine from place to place, the lower ends of the legs 2| of the first frame member are each provided with a caster wheel including a sheet metal frame 10, of inverted U-shape formation in the lower end of which is pivoted a roller H in a conventional manner. The caster frame Ills dimensioned with respect to the interior of the tubular leg 2i for a snug force flt therein, and the lower portions of the sides of the frame I are enlarged to provide shoulders 12 to abut against the lower end of the tubular leg 2| for limiting the extent of projection of the frame Ill into said leg. Thus, by virtue of the caster wheels, the machine in folded inoperative position on the frame structure, may be conveniently moved from place to place as seen in Rig. of the drawings. requiring relatively littlejeflort due to the light weight compact construction, and due to the relatively small dimensional relationship of the supporting frame structure and the machine,

the machine may thus occupy a relatively small space and floor area in a suitable out of the way place, such as a closet or hallway.

To insure adequate stability of the machine when disposed in operative position on the frame structure, the forward connecting portion 24 of the second frame member is provided with a pair of adjustable feet 80. Each of these feet includes a threaded and headed stud ill, the shank of which is threaded into a sleeve 82, which is pressfitted into an aperture formed in the bottom of said member 24 of the base of the second frame member. Mounted on the head of the stud is a button 83 preferably of fabric composition or other suitable friction material. Thus these feet 80 may be vertically adjusted with respect to the base of the supporting frame so as to insure proper balancing of the machine when disposed in a horizontal operating position, as well as insuring adequate stability for the machine to preclude any tendency for tipping of the machine in normal use.

Although we have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of our invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as we may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a structure of the character described, the combination of an ironing machine having an elongated base, of a supporting frame comprising an upright portion, means extending horizontally from the upright portion and operably connected to the underside of one end portion of the base and serving to provide a fixed, horizontally extending pivotal support for the machine, extending transversely of the length of the machine, whereby said machine may be swung about said pivotal support to assume a substantially vertical inoperative position or a horizontal operating position, latch means comprising coopcrating features on the upright portion and the opposite end portion of the base constructed and arranged for automatically latching and supporting the machine in a horizontal operating position when said machine assumes such position of adjustment, and a latch feature on said upright portion, positioned so as to be engaged. by said feature on the base for releasably and automatically latching the machine in vertical inoperative position when the machine assumes such position of adjustment.

2. In a structure of the character described, the combination with an ironing machine having an elongated base, of a supporting frame comprising an upright portion, means extending horizontally from the upright portion and operably connected to the underside of one end portion of the base and serving to provide a fixed, horizontally extendin pivotal support for the machine, extending transversely of the length of the machine,

whereby said machine may be swung about said,

pivotal support to assume a substantially vertical inoperative position or a horizontal operating position, and latch means comprising cooperating features on the upright portion and the opposite end portion of the base constructed and arranged for automatically latching and supporting the machine in a horizontal operating position when said machine assumes such position of adjustment, said latch feature on the base comprising a spring pressed lever pivoted to said 3. In a structure of the character described.

the combination with an ironing machine having an elongated base, of a supporting frame comprising an upright portion, means extending horizontally from the upright portion and operably connected to the underside of one end portion of the base and serving to provide a fixed, horizontally extending pivotal support for the machine, extending transversely of the length of the machine, whereby said machine may be swung about said pivotal support to assume a substantially vertical inoperative position or a horizontal operating position, latch means comprising cooperating features on the upright portion and the opposite end portion of the base constructed and arranged for automatically latching and supporting the machine in a horizontal operating position when said machine assumes such position of adjustment, and a stop member on said upright portion, above the latch feature thereon, positioned to be engaged by the latch feature on the base for limiting upward movement of the machine when it is swung to horizontal operating position.

4. In a structure of the character described, the combination with an ironing machinehaving an elongated base, of a supporting frame comprising an upright portion, means extend- 8 or the like, comprising a pair of spaced apart upright standards, forming a part of an inverted U-shaped frame member, the top or inter-' mediate portion connecting the standards serving as a hand grasp for moving the frame structure, a horizontally extending arm projecting forwardly from the upper portion of one of the standards and adapted to be operably connected to and serve as a pivotal support for the machine to be supported, a horizontally and forwardiy extending supporting base of generally U-shape form having its ends connected to said standards, caster wheels mounted on the lower ends of said standards, and one or more vertically adjustable feet connected to the under- 1:z'vide of the intermediate portion of the U-shaped ase.

7. A frame structure for an ironing machine or the like, comprising a frame member in the form of an inverted U-shape element, having a pair of spaced apart upright standards, and an intermediate portion connecting the upper ends of such standards, said intermediate portion serving as a hand grasp for moving the structure, and a second frame member, having a horizontally and forwardly extending supporting base of generally U-shape formation with the ends of its legs extending into a pair of upright standards, rigidly attached to said standards of the first frame member, the upper end of one of said upright legs of the second ing horizontally from the upright portion and operably connected to the underside of one end portion of the base and serving to provide a fixed, horizontally extending pivotal support for the machine, extending transversely of the length of the machine, whereby said machine may be swung about said pivotal support to assume a substantially vertical inoperative position or a horizontal operating position, a coil spring sur rounding said pivotal support means and having a portion fixed thereto and another portion positioned to engage the base of the machine for assisting in counterbalancing the weight of the machine when the latter is free to be swung about the pivotal support, and means comprising cooperating features on the upright portion of the frame and the opposite end portion of the base for cooperating with the pivotal support in supporting said machine in a horizontal operating position.

5. A frame structure for an ironing machine or the like, comprising a pair of spaced apart upright standards, a horizontally extending arm projecting forwardly from the upper portion of one of the standards and adapted to be operably connected to and serve as a pivotal support for the machine to be supported, and a horizontally and forwardly extending supporting base of generally U-shape form having its ends connected to said standards.

6. A frame structure for an ironing machine 5 Number frame member terminating in a horizontally extending arm, projecting forwardly and adapted to be operably connected to and serve as a pivotal support for the machine to be supported.

ANDREW H. GERHARDT. ARTHUR P. SCHULZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Twitchell Aug. 4, 1908 Greenwood Jan. 4, 1910 Hazenzahl Nov. 25, 1913 Cooper et al Apr. 16, 1929 Sperlich et al Mar. 8, 1932 Racklyeft July 26, 1932 Altorfer Mar. 19, 1935 Rumbaugh Apr. 21, Lundy Oct. 12, 1943 Brown Jan. 4, 1944 Egedal Mar. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Number Date France Jan. 9, 1920 

